Indictment Links Cop, Gang Leader

U.s. Cites Conspiracy To Rob Other Dealers

January 31, 1997|By Matt O'Connor, Tribune Staff Writer.

A Dixmoor Park District police officer, identified as a high-ranking leader of the Traveling Vice Lords street gang and drug dealer, apparently teamed up with one of seven indicted Austin District officers to rob other dealers of narcotics, according to federal charges disclosed Friday.

Terry Young, 31, the alleged gang leader, was also elected Republican committeeman of Chicago's 2nd Ward last November.

Young and 13 others were charged with federal narcotics conspiracy charges in connection with a cocaine, crack and heroin ring they allegedly operated in the Henry Horner Homes and Rockwell Gardens public housing developments and elsewhere on the West Side.

Young and several co-defendants were also accused of conspiring with a Chicago police officer, referred to only as "Officer A" in the charges, to rob other drug dealers.

U.S. Atty. Jim Burns wouldn't confirm that the officer was one of the seven Austin District tactical officers charged last month with shaking down undercover agents posing as a drug dealer. But the criminal complaint said Officer A has been in federal custody since last Dec. 20, the same day the seven Austin District officers were arrested.

Starting at least in September, Federal authorities obtained a series of court-authorized wiretaps to electronically eavesdrop on four telephones used by Young and co-defendant Mohammad Mansoori, the gang's alleged narcotics supplier, according to Burns.

Those wiretaps also picked up Officer A discussing robbery plots with Young, he said.

Burns said the narcotics stolen from other drug dealers were then sold by the gang, who shared the profits with Officer A and other participants in the scheme.

Burns hinted that Officer A will be charged later in connection with those alleged robberies.

Burns said the charges against Young and the 13 others grew out of an investigation of the Traveling Vice Lords that resulted in convictions of 19 gang members last year in federal court.